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גָּדוֹל

𐤂𐤃𐤅𐤋

gâdôwl

H1419 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root ג־ד־ל to be great, to grow, to become strong/powerful

Definition

Large in size, quantity, or degree; significant, important, or powerful. The adjective denotes physical greatness (size, height), social prominence (status, influence), intensity (of sound or force), or figurative importance (great in age, rank, or value). It can also denote being older, as in 'elder.'

Semantic Range

large (in size), great (in importance/status), mighty, older/elder, loud (of sound), high (in degree/scale), significant, noble, proud, exceeding; very (intensifying)

Root / Etymology

Root: ג-ד-ל (g-d-l). The root גָּדַל means 'to be great,' 'to grow up,' 'to become large' or 'powerful.' The adjective גָּדוֹל derives directly from the root, denoting one who is great, large, or significant, whether literally (size) or metaphorically (importance/status).

Historical & Contextual Notes

גָּדוֹל is one of the most common and versatile adjectives in Biblical Hebrew. In the patriarchal and monarchic periods, it described literal size (e.g., cities, stones, animals), social/political status (a 'great person' as a leader or elder), or age differentiation ('the older/greater' as opposed to 'younger/smaller'). In comparisons of siblings, גָּדוֹל marks the elder. In later periods, its abstract use expands to 'importance' and 'noteworthiness.' גָּדוֹל may also qualify sound ('loud voice'), magnitude (natural events), or degree (exceedingly, very). The semantic breadth sometimes overlaps with רַב (much, many), though רַב primarily concerns quantity and frequency, while גָּדוֹל focuses on magnitude or significance. The English terms 'great,' 'large,' 'older,' or 'important' each capture facets of the Hebrew meaning, but do not always convey the full semantic and cultural nuance, particularly where status and societal role are encoded by the term. Later translations sometimes use 'noble' or 'mighty,' reflecting established roles rather than mere size or age. In connection with kings or leaders, גָּדוֹל can indicate both literal power and recognized authority.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or גָּדֹל; (shortened) from גָּדַל; great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent; [phrase] aloud, elder(-est), [phrase] exceeding(-ly), [phrase] far, (man of) great (man, matter, thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble, proud thing, [idiom] sore, ([idiom]) very.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

גדל (g-d-l) — greatness, growth, becoming large, becoming strong/powerful

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1420 גְּדוּלָה greatness of
H1431 גָּדַל I will make great
H1432 גָּדֵל great-ones of
H1433 גֹּדֶל in your greatness
H1434 גְּדִל braided tassels

Word Forms

28 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1419-04 גָּד֥וֹל gadol HAamsa great great 179
H1419-14 הַ/גָּדֹל֙ hagadol HTd/Aamsa the great the great one 107
H1419-07 גְדֹלָ֖ה gedolah HAafsa great great 93
H1419-15 הַ/גְּדֹלָֽה hagedolah HTd/Aafsa the great the great one 37
H1419-13 גְּדֹלֹת֙ gedolot HAafpa great great ones 35
H1419-12 גְּדֹלִ֖ים gedolim HAampa great great ones 25
H1419-16 הַ/גְּדֹלִ֑ים hagedolim HTd/Aampa great the great ones 11
H1419-25 וְ/גָד֖וֹל vegadol HC/Aamsa and great and great 8
H1419-17 הַ/גְּדֹלֹ֜ת hagedolot HTd/Aafpa great the great ones (fem.) 6
H1419-18 כַּ/גָּדֹל֙ kagadol HRd/Aamsa as the great as a great one 4

Occurrences in Scripture

530 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1419-16 Genesis 1:16 הַ/גְּדֹלִ֑ים hagedolim HTd/Aampa great the great ones
H1419-14 Genesis 1:16 הַ/גָּדֹל֙ hagadol HTd/Aamsa greater the great one
H1419-16 Genesis 1:21 הַ/גְּדֹלִ֑ים hagedolim HTd/Aampa the great the great ones
H1419-04 Genesis 4:13 גָּד֥וֹל gadol HAamsa great great
H1419-15 Genesis 10:12 הַ/גְּדֹלָֽה hagedolah HTd/Aafsa great the great one
H1419-14 Genesis 10:21 הַ/גָּדֽוֹל hagadol HTd/Aamsa the elder the great one
H1419-04 Genesis 12:2 גָּד֔וֹל gadol HAamsa great great
H1419-12 Genesis 12:17 גְּדֹלִ֖ים gedolim HAampa great great ones
H1419-07 Genesis 15:12 גְדֹלָ֖ה gedolah HAafsa great great
H1419-04 Genesis 15:14 גָּדֽוֹל gadol HAamsa great great
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